Biography

David Kisailus is an associate professor in the department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering and Winston Chung Endowed Professor in Energy Innovation at the University of California, Riverside, where he leads the Biomimetics and Nanostructured Materials Lab. His background and formal training includes chemical engineering, materials science and molecular biology. Thus, his research truly encompasses nanomaterials and biomaterials. Based on these interests, he has written or co-authored more than 35 papers and patents in the areas of bio-mimetics, bio-inspired materials synthesis, ceramic processing, thin film growth, nano and energy-based materials (fuel cells, batteries). Prior to joining UCR, his research at HRL Laboratories included conceiving synthetic strategies for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Program. He has investigated the synthesis and self-assembly of nanoscaled materials from bio-inspired and bio-mimetic platforms. Prior to HRL, Professor Kisailus was a post-doctoral researcher at UC Santa Barbara, where he investigated biological pathways to novel materials and extended this to bio-mimetic and inspired systems. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2002, where he developed novel solution routes to epitaxial thin films and nanocrystals of GaN. Prior to this, he received his M.S. from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida in 2000, where he synthesized ceramic colloids and investigated densification behavior of glass-ceramic composites.

Memberships/Affiliations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Ceramic Society

American Chemical Society

American Institute of Chemical Engineers

ASTM/TMS

Materials Research Society

Research Areas

Bio-mimetics, Bio-inspired Materials Synthesis, Biomineralization, Ceramic Processing, Thin Film Growth, Nanomaterials, Energy Storage and Conversion Materials (Photocatalysts, Batteries). In order to design and synthesize nano-scaled materials with desired properties, an understanding of the interfacial phenomena controlling nucleation and growth is necessary. By developing these tools, proper control may be exerted to derive novel materials with the proper structure-function relationship; to this end, Nature provides innumerable examples of optimizing a limited number of materials to maximize performance. Through extensive experience with the study of biological systems, the Kisailus Biomimetics and Nanostructured Materials Lab provides a deeper understanding of synthetic control variables can lead to novel materials through biological -inspiration, -mimetics, and –mediation. Recent research includes: biological catalytic synthesis of semiconducting materials, structure-functional analyses and biomimetic demonstration of impact and abrasion resistant materials, solution phase precursor synthesis of ceramic and semiconducting materials for photocatalytic membranes, nanoparticle synthesis and self-assembly.